AM Digital Series

A esthetic Medicine India, in association with IPCA, recently organised a virtual event on Management of Melasma & Hyperpigmentation: Global & Indian Perspective that delved into the triggers that cause melasma and their treatments.

Organised on August 21, the event included five virtual sessions with an incredible line up of aesthetic medicine practitioners from not just India, but across the globe. The eminent panel and speakers weighed in with their opinions and case studies and presented a careful evaluation of the causes, symptoms and treatments for melasma – therapeutic and procedural approach.

Here’s a glimpse to the session and speakers below:

Session 1: International Perspective on Pigmentation in the Eye Area – the therapeutic approach by Dr Uche Aniagwu, Founder, Dr Uche Tear Trough Academy, UK.

Key takeaways:

• Colour of skin plays a role in determining how hyperpigmentation affects the under eye area.

• Advised treatments: Targeted melanin production, topical treatments, mesotherapy injectable as well as laser and mid-deep chemical peels.

• Infra-orbital hyperpigmentation is often accompanied with skin laxity or puffiness or other kinds of discolouration around the eyes.

Session 2: Therapeutic discussion on Platter of Cocktails in Melasma Management: Making a Genius Choice, an Indian perspective. Moderated by Dr Aseem Sharma, Chief Dermatologist, Skin Saga Centre for Dermatology, Mumbai; the panel included Dr Rashmi Sarkar, Director Professor, Department of Dermatology, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Associated Hospitals, New Delhi; Dr Malavika Kohli, Dermatology & Aesthetics Director, Skin Secrets India, and Consultant Dermatologist Jaslok and Breach Candy Hospitals, Mumbai; Dr Abhishek De, Senior Consultant, WIZDERM Skin and Hair Clinic, Kolkata, and Associate professor, Calcutta National Medical College; and Dr Padmavathi Surapaneni, Dermatologist and Cosmetologist, Pragna Skin and Laser Clinic, Hyderabad.

Key takeaways:

•A healthy cocktail of molecules and the right usage of products at the right time is the way forward.

• Sunscreen is a must-have to protect skin against UVB and UVA rays to avoid photo carcinogenesis that occurs on skin.

• Triple combination is still a gold standard in treatments of melasma, but in India, patients tend to abuse it.

Session 3: International Perspective: PRP for Melasma by Dr Teresita Ferrariz, Board of Director, International Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ISDS) Philippines. Key takeaways:

• Autologous PRP releases growth factors -cytokines and chemokines -that promote self-proliferation and differentiation as well as a mechanism to improve pigmentation.

• For optimal results, PRP may be combined with other treatment modalities like topicals (sunscreen, bleaching agents), microneedling, chemical peeling and lasers and oral medication.

• PRP can be used to enhance several procedures for faster and improved healing.

Session 4: International perspective on Procedural options in Melasma Management by Dr Raj Thethi, MBChB BSc (Hons) MRCSEd, Founder, Yorkshire Skin Centre, UK.

Key takeaways:

• Lasers for melasma management: Q-switched laser, Nd:YAG, Picosure, Nanosure, and Erbium Fractional.

• The Intense Pulse Light Treatment (IPL) or photofacial shows promising results.

• For practitioners, especially junior practitioners, it is better to under-promise and over-deliver while treating melasma.

Session 5: Procedural options in Melasma Management, an Indian perspective. Moderated by Dr Apratim Goel, Medical Director & Founder, Cutis Skin Solution, Mumbai; the panel included Dr Jagdish Sakhiya, Director, Sakhiya Skin Clinic, Mumbai; Dr Chiranjiv Chhabra, Dermatologist and Director-in-Chief, Alive Wellness Clinic, New Delhi; Dr Rajesh Nair, Founder, SkinCare Speciality Centre, Thiruvananthapuram; and Dr Falguni Shah, Dermatologist, Cosmetologist, and Founder, Radiance Skin Clinic, Mumbai.

Key takeaways:

•A wide basket of treatments are available for melasma but the choice largely depends on the type of melasma that is being dealt with.

• IV Glutathione: Does not really work on melasma but definitely gives a feel good factor to the patient.

• HIFU: Shows promising results.

To view the complete discussion for insights that could help in your practice management and approach to patients, CLICK HERE.